On Tuesday, October 3rd, W Robert Florio and the Brothers of Old Town Lodge #908 attended the School of Instruction hosted by Riverhead Lodge #645. While in attendance, the Brethren were able to abscond with the Suffolk Masonic District’s Traveling Gavel! Congratulations to Old Town on the successful steal! Who will get it next? Stay tuned….
While visiting family in Salt Lake City, W Terry Maccarrone of Connetquot Lodge #838 in Sayville toured the Grand Lodge of Utah and attended a meeting of Argenta Lodge #3. The Grand Lodge building boasts four ‘themed’ Lodge rooms, as well as a Theater for Shrine & Scottish Rite, a dedicated meeting room for Royal Arch, and a large catering room for special events and dinners, as well as office and museum space.
Continuing its tradition of Traveling and supporting Masonic events throughout the Metropolitan Region, Brothers of the Suffolk Masonic District attended the First Capitular District Festive Board, which was held at Grand Lodge on Wednesday, November 29th. The well-attended event was a resounding success and enjoyed by all.
On Monday, November 6th, W Robert Florio of Old Town Lodge #908 was joined by Suffolk Masonic District officers and Grand Lodge dignitaries to present RW Peter Stokke with the official portrait for his term as Grand Lodge Staff Officer. Congratulations to RW Stokke! (Pic., l. to r.: RW Al Cortizo, Junior Grand Warden; RW Jeffrey Santorello, District Deputy; RW Peter Stokke; RW Steven Rubin, Deputy Grand Master; W Robert Florio, Master of Old Town Lodge; and RW Robert Licata, Grand Sword Bearer.)
On Saturday, December 16th, Brothers of the Nassau and Suffolk Masonic Districts gathered together at Long Island National Cemetery and Calverton National Cemetery to volunteer with Wreaths Across America. This marks the third consecutive year that the Brothers have volunteered for this fantastic event. During the year, Wreaths Across America sells holiday wreaths through its website and via sponsoring organizations for placement on the Veterans graves at our national cemeteries throughout the country.
YOUTH GROUPS ACKNOWLEDGED
During the Annual Visitation of the District Deputy to Jephtha Lodge #494, Suffolk’s local youth groups were in attendance, completing excellent presentations for the visiting Brethren and Ladies. Recognizing the importance of our Masonic Youth and the tremendous impact they have on local charitable efforts & their adherence to Masonic values, RW District Deputy Jeffrey Santorello congratulated those in attendance, while also thanking the Brothers and Ladies who volunteer to mentor them.
Contemporary image of Mechanics Hall in Westhampton Beach, NY
Long before this Mason was even a thought, a group of Brothers and members of Riverhead Lodge #645, who traveled the dimly lit and rutted roads between the south shore of Long Island to Riverhead to attend meetings, got together and decided to form a new Lodge closer to home. Bro. Hermon Bishop and others gathered and formed a Square Club with the intention of forming a new Lodge south of Riverhead Lodge. In 1923 these Brothers were granted a dispensation to form a new lodge in Westhampton. The new lodge took up residence in the Mechanics Hall in Westhampton and worked at getting a new charter.
In early 1926 they received the good news that they would receive a charter that year. The brothers called the new Lodge Potunk Lodge and would be numbered 1071. Over the years the Lodge prospered and grew and soon they outgrew the Mechanics Hall, as well it has some structural issue and parking for members attending Lodge was limited. So, they endeavored to build or purchase their own building. In the late 1960s they realized their dream and land was acquired and permits granted so building could begin.
The new structure w took about 8 months to build and was nearly complete by the end of 1968, The Grand Master and many Masons from NYC and surrounding Lodge came out to Westhampton to lay the cornerstone and dedicate the building as a Masonic edifice. The first meeting was held in the new building in the winter of 1969, W:. Arthur Rumph presiding.
The Lodge saw many good days as well as trying times. All the while a succession of dedicated Masons took up the mantel and did whatever needed to be done to keep the doors open and the lights on.
Today the Lodge is in better shape than ever, and the current members are proud of the history and look forward to the future of the Lodge. In 2026 Potunk Lodge will turn 100 years old, it’s charter date May 6th, 1926. We look forward to celebrating 100 years of Freemasonry in Westhampton, Good Ground (Hampton Bays), Eastport, East & Center Moriches. This milestone is once in a lifetime for most Freemasons, and it will be a sight to see.
Dedication and Cornerstone Ceremony at Potunk Lodge 1969
Look for upcoming events and news about Potunk Lodge’s 100th over the coming months. All culminating with a grand celebration in the spring of 2026!
If you would like to know more about the history of Potunk Lodge No. 1071 you can go to the About Us page.
For more information about Freemasonry in Suffolk County you can hop on over to Suffolkmasons.com and explore the rich history of Freemasonry in Suffolk, dating back to before the nation’s founding.
Want to investigate Long Island Freemasonry, Ron Seifried, wrote a wonderful history of Long Island Freemasonry that you can purchase off Amazon or see some of on the Long Island History Project. Ron is a proud Past Master of Jephtha Lodge in Huntington NY.
Finally, if you would like more history of Freemasonry in New York, there is always the Grand Lodge of New York, which governs all regular Masonic Lodge’s in the state of New York.
We look forward to celebrating 100 years of Freemasonry with our Brothers and the surrounding communities.
Potunk Lodge today!
On Saturday, Oct 21, Potunk, Riverhead and Peconic Lodges will be having a Pig Roast BBQ from 2pm to 6pm. The event will be held on the grounds of Riverhead Lodge located on Roanoke Ave. Riverhead. Roast pig, BBQ chicken, salads and more, along with beer, soda, and water will be provided. Tickets are available via a link on the Suffolk District web site of the Band. Tickets are $30 in via the sites or $35 at the door. proceeds from the event will be used to support Maureen’s Haven events that the lodges had supported last year.
If you can help with the event, please reach out to W:. Mike Sokel who is chairing this event.
My Brothers,
As August slips past us and the summer begins to turn to fall and the temperature dips slightly each night, can only mean one thing….
It’s time for the Lodge to come together for the upcoming season. As the Jr. Warden of Potunk Lodge, it’s my duty to call the Craft from Labor to refreshment. We have several talented cooks in the Lodge and things being what they are I would ask anyone who would like to prepare a meal for the Lodge to please contact me (see my contact info below).
I can cook OK, and our WM can cook even better, but we should all share the “joy” of preparing the collation meal. I would also just make it plain now that I would hope that ALL would pitch in and help clean up after our meal. We need to leave the collation room as clean and neat as possible after each meeting.
I am sure the WM has an exciting trestle board prepared for the year and I look forward to seeing my Brothers once again at the Lodge, which has been newly renovated. The collation room is bright and clean. New pain, new floors. So yes, that means no smoking in the lodge, up or downstairs. We must be mindful that we are now only tenants in the building and use all care to maintain the owner’s property as if it were our own.
Some other new (and very welcome) additions: The Lodge is now fully into the 21st century. Yes, we have Wi-Fi throughout the Lodge. If you would like to connect to the Lodge Wi-Fi, you can get the network (SSID) and Password from the Lodge secretary if you didn’t catch it on the Potunk Lodge BAND. Remember that the Lodge Wi-Fi is for members only. There is a Potunk Lodge Guest Network that is for guests and Hall renters, etc. There will be signs with QR codes in the Collation Hall for them to connect to this guest network.
There is also a new Lodge phone number: 631-898-5241. There is no receiver in the Lodge but it’s specifically for the Lodge Secretary to conduct business with potential renters and alike.
I do hope all are looking forward to the upcoming season as I am. Our first Stated Communication is Thursday, September 7th, 2023. The bar will be open and the meal tasty and hot. So come out the first and third Thursdays and support the WM and the Lodge.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Bill Arnold
Jr. Warden
Potunk Lodge #1071
Cell: 631-903-1510
email: billarnold@optonline.net
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